Tombstone epitaph., 1887-12-10

l TlCn bottom lduuS udVC ptOuuClIR capacity not surpassed by any lands in United States. The United States Land Office certiies there are 100000 acres of arabic land in the valleys of the Colo rado, Salt and Gila rivers. All that is required to make them yield abundantly is the artificial application of water Water is in abundance in the rivers, and with the construction of canals and irri- gating ditches every acre of this land will eventually be reclaimed. There are, it IS estimated, at least 400 miles of irrig ating canals in Arizona, the total cost of con s,ruction being over SI,ooo,ooo. This will reclaim about 1000 acres of land. Most of the canals have been construct ed, and the stock is owned by the holders Of the lands under them. The farmer l pays for the number of inches he uses to produce his crop. From three-eighths to one-half of an inch per acre is all that is generally required. This system of cul. tivating the soil is most reliable. Crops are more certain and the yield far greater. Two crops are expected year, and alfalfa (French lucerne) is cut five and six times season.
 The Territory has two distinct zones. North of the thirty-fourth parallel the elevation is from 4,ooo to- 900 feet above sea-level, with an average summer tenn perature of 700. During the winter snow falls on the mountains and feeds the rivers with waters that fertilize the valleys. South of the thirty-fourth paral- Tel the elevation above sea level is from 5000 to 5000 feet, with minimum tenn perature of 4oo and maximum of Soc for eight months of the year. The farmer plants in November and reaps in May.
 SETTLEMENT OF LANDS.
 The great advantage which Arizona offers in agriculture, horticulture, and stockraislng are practically demonstrated by the rapidity with which the public lands are now being settled upon. Dur. ing the last quarter the reports of the United States land office for the south ern district of Arizona show &, 1000 acres filed upon, 5o,ooo acres under the desert land act, while in the northern district. during the past year the records show there have been taken up by settlers 2o,92o acres, and 5o7,349 acres of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad grant lands sold for grazing purposes.
 STOCK RAISING.
 Nowhere in the United States can the advantage of Arizona as pasture be sur passed. Her live stock interests are in Aourishing condition. Free from the heavy falls of snow and severe cold of the more northern Territories, with greater security against droughts, this industry has thrved in Arizona while thousands of cattle in other and less favored local ities have perished from cold, hunger and thirst.
 The climatic changes are so mild through the entire year that the loss of stock from such causes is only nominal. Millions of dollars have been successfully invested in cattle-raising. This business pays heavy share ofour taxes. It has grown to such proportions that it is now one of the leading, most important and fourishing industries of the Territory. A large number of horses and mules are also raised. In sheep raising and wool growing, central Arizona has long taken prominence.
 MINING.
 The product of Arizona in precious metals for the year 1886, as given by Wells, Fargo & Co.,, was $6,Io3,378. This includes only such portions of the product as they were able to verify as having been transported. It would be safe to add at least 20 per cen: for chlor- ides and ore shipped out of the Territory for treatment in Colorado and San Fran cisco, and which are constantly being transported and not reported. Taken in the aggregate the mining industries of the Territory are on a safe and promising basis. The speculative characteristics which too long marked this especial in- dustry are fast disappearing, and that stable, economical, sound, business pru- dence, which alone brings success, is taking its place. Mining for precious metals is just as legitimate business as that of any other branch of industry, but it requires the same amount of care, judgment and intelligence, and when these essential requirements are ignored, failure and disappointment inevitably follow, to the general detriment of this, one of the most important and growing industries of the country. Owing to lack of railroad facilities to cheapen the cost of transportation very many of the most valuable mining properties of the Terri tory, of necessity, have not been worked. This is especially true nf many of the mines of northern Arizona, which pro duce heavy percentage of base ore, and
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